Halloween is always a great time of year. If you let your ‘spirits’ run free, you can really get creative – especially when it comes to carving pumpkins.

One year a friend saw a picture in a magazine and said, “You can do this.” So, I gave it a try and this was the result. We were both really pleased at how it looked illuminated. Glad I took this picture before it was snatched off the front porch by goblins.

For many years at work, we used to have pumpkin carving contests. The VW bus was one of my entries. I found this design on line and copied it.

Do you see the image of musician Frank Zappa below? This was a very unusual pumpkin. When it was not illuminated, it looked like, well nothing but holes. When lit up… his eerie image appeared.

Another work pumpkin entry was a Pumpkin Planetarium. This was a foam pumpkin with lenses and a strobe circuit board inside. The pumpkin moved and really projected beams of light. Here it is on display at a local Space and Science center. I know, who would do it?

Probably my most ambitious pumpkin project was this Totem Pole. It began as only four real pumpkins (illuminated on the right side). They looked so good, I bought a bunch of Funkins (foam pumpkins) and made a larger totem pole and stand. I know, who would do it?

You should do it… that’s who. So what are you waiting for… get carving and have fun!